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INTUITIVE PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT

Connecting with Ancestors

There are traditions of ancestor veneration from every part of the world. All of these traditions have
similarities and all of them have important differences. The practices described here are drawn directly
from what I have learned from practitioners and mediums in the South African Sangoma tradition and the
African-American hoodoo tradition, as well as the practices of Spiritualism and Latin American Spiritism.

WHO ARE THE ANCESTORS

The Ancestors include the blood relatives of
your mothers and fathers line, as well as other
close friends and loved ones who have passed
on. Additionally your spiritual court includes
your spirit guides, helper spirits and any other
spirits that may be with you as helpers and
guides in this lifetime.

WHY DO WE CONTACT THEM

There are many reasons to contact and work with
your ancestors, including:
Emotional and Personal Healing
Comfort
Spiritual Evolution
Guidance
And many more reasons that become clear
during the work.
Your ancestors are the genetic, karmic and
energetic basis of who you are and they are there
to comfort, guide and assist you in your life.
They are there for you, to help you and assist
you in your personal evolution, and by working
with them and evolving, you are assisting in
their expansion and evolution as well.

THE ANCESTOR ALTAR

An ancestor altar is an important tool in working
with your ancestors. Ideally the altar is placed in
a living room, or some area where the ancestors
can participate in your and your families day to
day life, not hidden away.

The altar may be as simple or elaborate as you

like, but make sure everything on it has a
meaning. A white cloth is traditional, as are
pictures of your ancestors, fresh flowers, candles
and incense. It is also traditional to have either a
glass of water on the altar, or several small
glasses for each spirit or ancestral line; these
should be changed at least once a week.
While white candles are traditional (either one
candle, or one for each ancestor or ancestral
line), some traditions also teach lighting a red
candle to represent the bloodline.
It is also traditional to leave foods that your
ancestors liked (e.g. if they had a favorite drink
or dish) or to leave a small amount of each meal
cooked at the altar. If you do this, it should be
placed on the altar before you eat.

COMMUNING AT THE ALTAR

Time should be spent daily, or at least weekly, at
the altar meditating, praying and or simply being
with your ancestors. Over time you will develop
your own methods with your ancestors, but here
is a possible outline:
Sprinkle the altar with purified water
(Florida Water cologne is traditional
for this, as is Hoyts cologne or holy
water) to purify the altar.
Light your candle or candles and
incense.
Relax into a meditative state, in anyway
that you wish, and visualize a sphere of
beautiful white light surrounding
yourself and the altar
Pray to God, Goddess, Universe or in
any way asking that the altar be blessed

and protected and make a doorway for

you to make contact with your
ancestors. You may ask also that the
light of God shine on your ancestors
and yourself blessing you all and
guiding your spiritual evolution.
By this point you may well feel the
presence of your ancestors very
strongly, if not simply smile and know
they are there for you and that the altar
work is opening the lines of
communication.
It is traditional now to say a prayer with
the ancestors. Traditional prayers
include the Our Father and the 23
psalm, but you may use other prayers
from your familys tradition or that
resonate with you.
Lastly simply be silent and be in the
presence of you ancestors. Smile to
them and with them. You may want to
tell them what is happening in your life,
ask for strength, healing or guidance.
You may also want to sing old songs, or
share memories. You can also send
energy to them; this energy will be
received and returned to you amplified
and at a higher vibration.
This is also an appropriate time to do
divination or mediumship as well as to
preform any cleansing or healing work
with the aid of your ancestors.
When you feel that the time is up, thank
your ancestors, send them love and ask
that they stay with you in your life.
Blow out the candle, extinguish the
incense and be still for another moment,
appreciating the blessings that you have
received.

This process can take anywhere from a couple of

minutes to an hour or more. It is a good practice
to come to the altar regularly, even if just for a
minute or two, as well as to have longer times
weekly or monthly.
At any point during your time at the altar you
may receive flashes of insight, messages,
feelings or sensations, smells or sounds. Take
note of these for they are messages from Spirit.

COMMUNICATING WITH THE

ANCESTORS
The ancestors can communicate directly through
your intuition as well as through any divination.
A pendulum is wonderful method, as is skrying
(crystal ball) or any other tool of divination you
are comfortable with. Simply connect with the
ancestors and ask that they communicate with
you through the method you are using.

BONE CASTING
Bone casting is one of the oldest forms of
divination. The bones are a direct connection
with the spirit world and the realm of the
ancestors and bone casting is intimately tied in
with ancestor work.
Becoming proficient as a bone reader is a longterm commitment, but a rewarding one. The
essence can be learned relatively quickly, but
regular practice and a deep connection with the
ancestors is necessary.
Bone casting is not currently something that I
teach, but luckily there are two resources that I
cannot recommend highly enough, they are:
Bones, Shells and Curios by Michele Jackson
And
Throwing the Bones by Catherine Yronwode
Both are available at:
Luckymojo.com/bonesshellsandcurios.html
Michele Jacksons book is also available directly
from her at:
Bonesshellsandcurios.com
(I dont get anything from either site, but if you
visit them tell them Courtney Kolb sent you! J)

For bone readings, sances or

mediumship parties, check out:

Myintuitionist.com